Ghost Boys

Ghost Boys

By Jewell Parker Rhodes

12 ratings 12 reviews 14 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 5 - 9n/an/an/an/a
The #1 Kids' Indie Next Pick

A heartbreaking and powerful story about a black boy killed by a police officer, drawing connections through history, from award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes.

Only the living can make the world better. Live and make it better.

Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that's been unleashed on his family and community in the wake of what they see as an unjust and brutal killing.

Soon Jerome meets another ghost: Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened, on a journey towards recognizing how historical racism may have led to the events that ended his life. Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer, who grapples with her father's actions.

Once again Jewell Parker Rhodes deftly weaves historical and socio-political layers into a gripping and poignant story about how children and families face the complexities of today's world, and how one boy grows to understand American blackness in the aftermath of his own death.


Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780316262262
ISBN-10: 0316262269
Published on 4/2/2019
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 224

Book Reviews (15)

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irategreatbooks irategreatbooks

is such a good book

whoever is putting a one star one this book stinks!! this book is awesome

Anna dabis Anna dabis

This book is really good I am reading it right now for a book report and so far it has been really inspirational.

Jeffery Mcman Jeffery Mcman

It is a good book

Kinda freaky, but it is NOT REAL. Which is luckily good. There is a kid named Jerome who was given a toy gun by his friend, and when a police officer thought he had a real gun, he shot the boy. Jerome died and his ghost lingered. He soon met other ghosts, who were all... brown skinned boys. They were all killed because they were black, just like Jerome. The person that started it all was their leader. Each ghost had one person who could see him, and Jerome's was the officer's daughter. He had shot him because he was afraid of him. And, basically.... he was just a ghost forever... :/ :( :'( This book was creepy, and might get kids believing in ghosts. So... what I got from the story was "DON'T BE RACIST."

you are wrong the book was good five stars